Nalanda University

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Overview

Nalanda University (NU), located in Rajgir in Bihar, is the modern iteration of one of the most renowned institutions of higher education in the ancient world. Established 1,600 years ago, the first version of Nalanda University flourished for almost eight decades, and attracted the best minds from multiple countries. Over the last 1.5 decades, it has been re-established near the location of the original University, and is a residential postgraduate institution of higher education. The modern iteration of Nalanda is a notably international University; in the 2023-24 academic year, 187 out of 1,038 students (18%) were from outside India. Students from 24 countries are enrolled at the University, from nations as diverse as South Sudan and Serbia. 

Nalanda University has a strong placement and internship cell. Each School has its own decentralized Career Cell structure, and blue chip national and international recruiters include the Aga Khan Rural Support Program, Dhan Foundation, Tata Steel, Indian Oil Corporation, Swaniti Initiative, and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.

The permanent campus of Nalanda University is as unique as the original location 16 centuries ago; the eco-friendly space was designed keeping in mind the principles used while constructing the earlier campus, and has achieved a zero carbon footprint. In keeping with the design ethos of ancient Indian Universities, there is a central water body at Nalanda called Kamal Sagar, with a meditation hall and yoga complex nearby. There is also an indoor sports stadium complex with halls for multiple athletic activities and a well equipped gymnasium.

Highlights

Fees

The academic fees for students of Nalanda University have multiple components e.g. tuition fees, examination charges, registration fees, and caution deposits. The fee structure for Indian students is as follows:

• MBA: INR 2.22 Lakh.
  • One time fees: INR 12,000.
    • Admission fee: INR 6,000.
    • Institute Security Deposit: INR 6,000. This will be refunded when the student graduates if no harm is caused to University property.
  • Recurring fees: INR 52,500 per semester.
    • Tuition fee: INR 50,000 per semester.
    • Miscellaneous program fees: INR 2,500 per semester.
• Other Master’s Programs: INR 1.34 Lakh.
  • One time fees: INR 12,000.
    • Admission fee: INR 6,000.
    • Institute Security Deposit: INR 6,000. This will be refunded when the student graduates if no harm is caused to University property.
  • Recurring fees: INR 30,500 per semester.
    • Tuition fee: INR 28,000 per semester.
    • Miscellaneous program fees: INR 2,500 per semester.

International fees are not significantly higher. For example, students from outside India must pay USD 3,422 for the full MBA program (which is more than INR 2.8 Lakh, or 27% above the fee for Indian students). Foreign students enrolled in other Master’s programs pay USD 2,066 as the full program fee. Indian PhD students pay INR 3.67 Lakh for the four year Doctoral program.

Nalanda is largely a residential University. Indian students pay INR 31,000 per semester for single rooms, in addition to INR 22,420 as mess fees. Double occupancy rooms are significantly cheaper (INR 22,500 per semester). International students in single rooms pay USD 480 per semester as hostel rent, and USD 345 per semester (meal charges).

Admissions

The eligibility criteria for admission to Nalanda University are as follows:

• Master’s programs other than MBA:
  • Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in any discipline. A student can apply to a maximum of two programs at Nalanda University.
  • Candidates must have a minimum UG aggregate of 55%, or 2.2 CGPA out of 4.
  • Students who are from countries where English is not the native language must submit a test score certifying proficiency in the language; TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and STEP scores are accepted. If the student has completed his/her UG studies in a recognized English medium institution, no test scores are required.
• MBA in Sustainable Development and Management:
  • Indian applicants must have a valid MAT, XAT, or CAT score, with a minimum cut-off of 70 percentile. International candidates must submit valid GMAT scores.
  • Working professionals with 5+ years of experience can bypass the entrance test route; however, they must submit a no objection certificate signed by their current employer.
  • The criteria listed above are applicable to MBA candidates as well.
• PhD applicants must have a relevant Master’s degree with a minimum aggregate of 65% or equivalent CGPA. They must also submit a detailed research proposal.

Students who wish to apply to Nalanda University must follow these steps:

• MBA-specific steps:
  • Appearing for the CAT, XAT, or MAT (Indian students) or GMAT (international students).
  • Submitting the score thus obtained with the remainder of the application; the cut-off for Indian students is 70 percentile.
• For all Master’s and PhD programs (including MBA):
  • Reading the eligibility criteria and application process for the course(s) of interest.
  • Creating an applicant account on the Nalanda University portal.
  • Filling up the application form with accurate personal and academic information.
  • Submitting the introduction statement (up to 250 words0.
  • Submitting the Statement of Purpose in two parts (100 words: why the applicant wishes to study at Nalanda University; 500 words: reason for choosing the program(s)).
  • After all applications have been submitted after paying the associated INR 500 fee, the University releases a shortlist of students whose applications are valid; they can appear for the online interview stage.
  • The final merit list is prepared based on the overall quality of the application and performance in the online interview; there is no fixed cut-off specified.
  • Selected students must follow the instructions given on the NU website regarding travel to India/Nalanda and academic registration.

Placements

As one of the top Universities in India, the placement highlights of Nalanda University are as follows: 

• Each School has its own Placement Cell, with the MBA program in Sustainable Development and Management having the best placement statistics. Examples of roles offered to students from that Department are Sustainability Consultant, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Financial Modeling Expert, Research Analyst, and Project Manager.
• Prominent recruiters include the Aga Khan Rural Support Program, Dhan Foundation, Tata Steel, Indian Oil Corporation, Swaniti Initiative, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Federation of Madhya Pradesh Chamber of Commerce, and Tarumitra Foundation.
• Several Schools allow their graduates to pursue careers in prominent national and international policy institutes. For example, the School of Ecology and Environment Studies (SEES) empowers its students to take up various senior roles in sustainability and renewable energy in organizations like UNEP, UNDP, Intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC), Earth System Governance Project, and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
• Students are encouraged to complete at least one internship between the two years of their Master’s studies at Nalanda University; MBA students may complete an additional winter internship and live projects to strengthen their CVs.

Cut-Offs

Admissions to Nalanda University are made on the basis of the overall application, and the final decision is a holistic mix of many factors. This is more like an international University than like the process in most Indian Universities, where there are clear cut-offs. In the case of Nalanda University, there are no entrance test scores required for most courses, and the SoP is evaluated qualitatively rather than quantitatively. The personal interview performance is scored, but the overall ranking of each candidate is not released publicly; rather, the merit list contains all students who are invited to join Nalanda University. Therefore, there are no explicit cut-offs for admission to the PG and research programs offered by Nalanda University except for MBA students; they require 70 percentile in their CAT, XAT, or MAT examination. All students must have 55% or higher in their UG degree to be able to apply to NU.

Faculty & Alumni

Nalanda University is home to 45 full time Faculty members. They are approximately equally distributed among all 6 Schools of the University: Historical Studies, Ecology & Environment Studies, Buddhist Studies, Philosophy & Comparative Religions, Languages, Literature & Humanities, and Management Studies. There are also distinguished international lecturers and visiting faculty members who add their expertise and diverse knowledge to expand the horizons of the PG and research students of the University.

Given the relatively young age of the re-established Nalanda University and the low number of students per batch (only in 2024 has the strength gone above 1,000), the alumni page on its website and a centralized online database are still under construction. However, different schools maintain alumni pages for most batches, with details of their current career plans and achievements during their time at the University. The alumni of Nalanda will help it leverage its unique mix of international students through a network that extends to 24+ prominent countries primarily in Africa and Asia. This is a modern rendering of the massive regional influence of the original Nalanda University.

Scholarships

As in other top Universities in India, there are multiple (a total of 11) financial aid options available to students of Nalanda University. The most prominent scholarship schemes are:

1. Nalanda University Scholarships: The University authorities recognize academic merit through tuition fee scholarships. For example, the highest performer in every stream of study and every batch will be chosen for a merit scholarship, provided that his/her GPA in the latest semester is above 8.0. The scholarship is awarded anew every semester, and selected students receive a 100% tuition fee waiver in the next semester.

2. Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Scholarship: This is awarded by the Ministry of External Affairs, and is open to students from India and 140 other countries. Students applying to Nalanda University must apply for this scholarship at the same time, and an online interview is conducted as the final selection step. The amount covers all program fees and living costs; it also provides an additional monthly living stipend for other expenses.

3. Study in India program: This is awarded by the Government of India and is funded by the Ministries of Education and External Affairs, with relatively more seats than the ICCR Scholarship. It covers all academic and living costs, but does not provide an additional living stipend.

4. ASEAN Scholarships: These are funded jointly by the Ministry of External Affairs and the ASEAN India Fund. Up to 20 students from the other 10 ASEAN member nations can avail of this scholarship at Nalanda University. It covers living costs, program fees, and provides a living stipend and flight costs to and from India once a year from the home country.

5-7. Scholarships for students from neighboring countries: The BIMSTEC Scholarship (open to students from Bhutan, Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar), the NU Bhutan Scholarship, and the NU Thailand Scholarship (for students enrolled in Buddhist studies) all provide Nalanda University students from the respective nearby countries with full fee waivers, a living stipend, and flight ticket reimbursement.

8. NU International Scholarships for students from Developing Countries: This scholarship is awarded by the Committee set up for that purpose, and is intended for students from any developing country as defined by the United Nations. Successful applicants will receive a 100% tuition fee waiver.

9. Professor Sunaina Singh Merit Scholarship: This tuition fee waiver is intended to help academically meritorious students from any country who have financial issues to fund their studies at Nalanda University. The Office of the Dean, Internal Students’ Affairs, handles all queries related to this financial aid scheme.

10. Shri Narsingrao Gangaram Pimple Scholarship: This assists monk students from any country (based on their academic merit) to pursue their higher studies at Nalanda University by providing a full tuition fee waiver.

11. Prof. Pyong Rae Lee Scholarship for Buddhist Studies: This merit-cum-means scholarship provides financial assistance (tuition fee waivers) to students from development countries who wish to study at the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions.

Preparation & FAQs

The two main components of the application to Nalanda University that make a difference are the Statement of Purpose (SoP) and the online interview. For the SoP, students should write multiple drafts clarifying how their unique skill sets and the programs at Nalanda University can mutually benefit each other, and connect all the pieces of their academic and extracurricular journey to craft a coherent narrative. Looking at sample SoPs and even talking to admissions consultants may help to increase the chances of a successful admission call. The personal interview is conducted online, and students must go through multiple mock interviews to ensure that their sincerity and command of their subjects are communicated virtually, while also measuring their time management skills to give concise and comprehensive answers to all questions.

MBA applicants must prepare for the CAT, MAT, GMAT or XAT as they would for any other Business School entrance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Which is the top University in India?

Nalanda University is one of the best Universities in India. It is ranked #45 among the best Universities in India, according to the IIRF 2024 ranking list.

Q. What are the application fees to Nalanda University?

The application fees to Nalanda University vary according to the level of the program to which the student is applying (undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD). For example, the application fee for most courses for general category students is INR 500.

Q. What are the expected dates of Nalanda University recruitment 2025?

The expected dates, mode of application, and submission deadlines for all part time and full time roles offered by Nalanda University in 2025 can be found on its website. This page contains details of rolling advertisements for Faculty and staff positions.

Q. What are the international connections of Nalanda University?

Nalanda University has a high proportion of international students (18%) as compared to most other public and private Indian institutions of higher education. It also has MoUs with 16 premier Universities and research institutions (e.g. Bronx Community College, City University of New York) across the world, in addition to being a part of a 16-member strong network of ASEAN Universities.

Q. What are the advantages of the MBA in Sustainable Development and Management offered by Nalanda University?

The MBA in Sustainable Development and Management offers its graduates the opportunity to work in conventional management or in the emerging field of sustainable leadership. It also offers students the chance to leave after one year with a Diploma.

Q. What are the advantages of the PhD programs offered by Nalanda University?

The PhD programs offered by Nalanda University are fully residential with exposure to the best national and international faculty members who guide students in their research. The University also pays its doctoral students a stipend of INR 35,000 per month.